Stars win 2OT classic
- What happened: the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild 4‑3 in double overtime to take a 2‑1 series lead. - The key specific: Wyatt Johnston scored the double‑OT winner. - Context/reaction: the late finish gives Dallas momentum and hands Minnesota a must‑win at home next. (x.com)
Dallas left St. Paul with a 4-3 double-overtime win, and Wyatt Johnston’s redirection on a power play turned Game 3 into a 2-1 series lead. (nhl.com) Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime on a shot from Miro Heiskanen, after the game stretched past midnight into early Thursday at Grand Casino Arena. (nhl.com) Dallas got goals from Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, Matt Duchene and Johnston, and Jake Oettinger made 28 saves. Minnesota got goals from Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Michael McCarron, while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 32 shots. (espn.com) Special teams decided the game. Dallas went 3-for-8 on the power play, including the tying goal by Duchene at 10:18 of the third period and the winner in double overtime, while Minnesota finished 1-for-7. (nhl.com) The swing came after Minnesota carried a 3-2 lead out of the second period and then failed to convert on a string of chances in the third period and overtime. The Wild now trail in the best-of-seven series despite taking Game 2 and bringing the matchup home. (espn.com) Robertson and Duchene each finished with a goal and two assists, and Johnston added an assist before scoring the winner. Heiskanen, back on the scoresheet with the primary assist on the final goal, helped Dallas cash in again with the extra skater. (nhl.com) Minnesota forward Matt Boldy said the Wild were “still confident in our group” after the loss. Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said his team had to “stick with it” through the swings of a game that lasted into a second extra period. (nhl.com) Game 4 is back in St. Paul on Saturday, April 25, with Dallas now holding the edge after the longest game of the series so far. (nhl.com)
